From the South Headland Reserve Charlotte and Dan enjoyed some stunning scenery over Cook Strait to the South Island. We’ve lived in Houghton Bay for nearly a year and it was the first time we’d explored this reserve, which is only a five minute walk from our home (shame on us!). View towards Island Bay: […]
Author: BritMumInNZ
Retail Therapy and Soccer Madness
Family Lee hasn’t been up to much this week. Charlotte kindly brought home a cold from Kindi, but she was only mildly afflicted. The rest of the Lee clan came down with the lurgy in a big way and the sunshine was a thankful blessing in aiding our ills. This morning we went into town […]
New Zealand Ads With Heart
Some of my favourite New Zealand ‘ads’ of old which capture the essence of New Zealand… Air New Zealand: Air New Zealand: Speights Beer: Meridian Energy – Wind Ad: New Zealand All Blacks Adidas Commercial: New Zealand Ad Campaign:
A New Chapter: Morning Kindi for Charlotte
Charlotte started morning Kindergarten on Monday and now attends five day’s a week. She is by far the smallest child in the group, but is coping well. She came home on Monday to say, ‘Everyone asked me if I was a baby!’. I told her that she might be small, but she has a big […]
Charli and Sophie’s Saturday of Sunshine
Charlotte and Sophie enjoyed a beautiful day of sunshine on Saturday. We were out on the waterfront all day, with a little ‘break’ midday to watch Daddy play football. Here are some snippets from the girls. Charlotte: I want to go to the playground with ‘and’ (sand) today. Mummy: Do you mean the one near […]
A Secret Valley: Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
Credit: Karori Wildlife Sanctuary 252 hectares of native forest, located only 2km from Wellington City Centre, is hidden in a secret valley filled with the songs of rare, native birds. Karori Wildlife Sanctuary reminds us of our past mistakes in handling our precious environment and gives us hope for the future. A remarkable 500-year vision […]
Garden Dreams
Our home in Houghton Bay is fortunate to be sheltered from the worst of Wellington’s southerlies and this afternoon we enjoyed a beautiful afternoon gardening and adventuring. Tui’s sang in the tree-top of our Norfolk Pine and a fantail flew above our heads, even venturing briefly inside the house (alas too fast for me to […]
Simba’s Adventure in the Neighbour’s Car
Simba loves our neighbours (as do we!) and today he just wouldn’t budge from the comfort of their car. With one son waiting to be picked up from school, and another from the airport, my neighbour had no choice but to take Simba for a spin! We’ve been of the opinion that Simba is actually […]
Houghton Bay Tonic
It was one of those days where everything went right. Three girls in the house doesn’t always make for smooth runnings, but with the warm sea breeze and refreshed from a midday nap, both the girls were on a high. We’d invited the great company of Marrisa and her beautiful daughter Bethany to spend the […]
Wellington Botanical Gardens: A Must Do!
For tourists and visitors alike Wellington Botanical Garden is a must do! Today was a perfect day in Wellington. One of those days you wish for when you see a cruise liner dock in the harbour. Wellington on a good day is paradise. Take a ride up the cable car for magnificent views and a […]
Are We Ever Good Enough? Mothers.
We give all that we can give. We love with all our hearts. Living with children in our midst, we are living with angels. Each action we take is reflected back ten-fold. Children are from heaven and we endeavour to respect them and bring them up with love and limits. Does any mother in the […]
Where Do We Go?
I don’t think you believed you were ready, your death has taken me by surprise. Every one says, ‘Ninety two is a marvellous age. It’s best she went so quickly, without having her independence taken from her for years on end.’ I know this is true and you will come to believe this too. But […]
To My Big Kindi Girl!
A letter to Charlotte, two month’s shy of four year’s old: My dear Charlotte, I am so very proud of you. You have been to Kindergarten independently for three sessions. I knew you could do it, you just needed to believe it for yourself. These past weeks you have been oblivious to my presence at […]
Harvest the Kumara
‘In bygone days, Tohunga Maori (Maori wise men and women) with a special knowledge of the stars spent much time studying the stars. The movement of the nga whetu (the eternal shining ones) followed a seasonal cycle, as did the Earth below, so that their rising and setting marked the progression of the seasons. Certain […]